Overview

Visual analytics is a key requirement of the early 21st century. As our human activity generates rapidly increasing amounts of new data every day, there is an urgent need to make sense of it and a huge potential to elicit new knowledge and insights from it.

Why study MSc by Research Visual Analytics at Middlesex University?

World events and phenomena like climate change, 9/11, global finance systems and public health are data rich and increasingly complex. Visual analytics turns large and complex, data sets into interactive visualisations that can prompt visceral comprehension and moments of insight that are compelling and offer an unparalleled richness of possibility for data analysts. In this uncharted world of boundless data, visual analytics is providing our new maps and new ways of navigating. Data analytics is recognised as a key trend that will have a major impact on the IT and Communications industry in the next 5 years

Middlesex University is the recognised centre for excellence in visual analytics the UK and leads the UK Visual Analytics Consortium (UKVAC). This group is working at the leading edge of Visual Analytics and works on a global basis. The UK partners are: Imperial College, University College London (UCL), Swansea, Bangor and Oxford Universities.

We are growing our community of practice in visual analytics and this is a chance to join our team, to work alongside some of the best UK researchers and to get involved in leading edge work. The course will build your professional network, your understanding and your portfolio of experience. Visual Analytics is an interdisciplinary, creative and technical activity. That's why we've built a masters course that is unique. You'll be working for most of the time on your own research and development project, supported by great supervisors, and connecting with new people, theories and practices through workshops that are spread throughout the year. You'll leave with unique insights, strong skills and great contacts; you'll also pick up an MSc along the way.

Department

Course content

What will you study on the MSc by Research Visual Analytics?

This unique, research-based course doesn’t follow the traditional model of lectures, examinations and thesis writing. We will induct you into our community through an ongoing series of workshops and then help you to build a project that meets your current needs and future plans.

We’ll also tailor learning experiences for you to fill identified gaps in your knowledge and to prepare you for novel application areas. We’d expect your project to be greeted with interest in the academic sector and to give you the leverage that you need in the jobs market place.

The normal study period with us will be 12 months full time or 24 months part time. We do not offer this course by distance learning as we need you to be fully engaged with our community and working actively with your peer group; visual analytics is moving fast and we intend to stay at the leading edge.

Workshop schedule

Logic and Sense-Making

How do we reason about the world, and how do we make sense of the information that is presented to us?

Human Perception and Information Visualisation

How does human visual perception work, and how do we navigate, interact and evaluate in domains that present information visually. What modalities can we use to represent information about entities and their relationships (e.g. temporal, locative, etc), and how do these modalities impact on human processes?

HCI and System Modelling

How do we apply the principles of user and activity centred design to VA systems? How do we design representations that support decision making? How do we determine what relationships in the data sets should be represented? How do we design the interactions that simplify analytical procedures, evidence collation and conclusion formation?

Visual Analytics System Architecture

How do we design system architectures that bring together complex data sets so that they can be visualised to support intended applications? This could include areas such as data integrity, data granularity and data provenance.

Operational Issues and e-Discovery

How do visual analytics systems integrate into real working practices, with particular reference to environments where they will be used for e-Discovery such as complex documentation sets?

Data Analysis and Knowledge Engineering

Advanced techniques for analysing data sets and extracting knowledge.

In addition, there will be a series of supporting seminars to cover required areas of research methods, mathematical skills and programming.

You can find more information about this course in the programme specification. Module and programme information is indicative and may be subject to change.

Teaching

How is the MSc by Research Visual Analytics taught?

During the course you will work alongside some of the UK's best researchers and get involved in leading edge work. The course will build your professional network, your understanding and your portfolio of experience. You’ll be supported by great supervisors, and connecting with new people, theories and practices through workshops that are spread throughout the year. You’ll leave with unique insights, strong skills and great contacts.

Life at Middlesex

Entry requirements

Qualifications

We are interested in people with backgrounds in subjects involving considerable analytic skills, such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Psychology or Physical Science

Some experience of programming is required, or a willingness to learn prior to embarking on the course.

Further requirements

Visual Analytics is an interdisciplinary activity that requires creativity and technical knowledge and skill. It is a human centred activity and is developing rapidly. There are opportunities for a broad range of specialists to make a productive contribution and a future career.

Eligibility

UK/EU and international students are eligible to apply for this course.

Academic credit for previous study or experience

If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your Middlesex University programme of study. For further information please visit our Accreditation of Prior Learning page.

Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions

Each application will be considered on its individual merits and suitably qualified candidates will be invited for interview. Successful applicants may enrol to begin their studies at the start of any of the three terms during the academic year.

Qualifications

We accept the equivalent of the below qualifications from a recognised overseas qualification.

We are interested in people with backgrounds in subjects involving considerable analytic skills, such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Psychology or Physical Science

Some experience of programming is required, or a willingness to learn prior to embarking on the course.

If you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest Regional office for support.

Visas and immigration

You will not need a visa to study in the UK if you are a citizen of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. If you are a national of any other country you may need a visa to study in the UK. Please see our Visas and immigration page for further information.

International students who require a Tier 4 Student Visa to progress on a course at Middlesex University must apply for study on a full-time basis. However, this course is offered part-time so you are eligible to apply on a part-time basis.

Part-time study

Changes to the Immigration Rules introduced in January 2018 now allows international applicants apply for Tier 4 visas for part-time postgraduate study (courses leading to a qualification at RQF level 7 or SCQF level 11 and above).

Tier 4 students studying part-time are subject to certain restrictions:

no work (paid or unpaid)

no work placements as part of the programme

no dependants

no extending under Tier 4 in the UK. This includes Tier 4 applications to work as a Students' Union Sabbatical Officer or for the Foundation Programme for postgraduate doctors and dentists

not eligible for the Tier 4 Doctorate Extension Scheme

*Please note that, if the course of your choice involves work experience, unpaid work, placements or internships, we will be unable to sponsor you to study a part- time course under the Tier 4 Visa.

English language requirements for international students

You must have competence in English language to study with us. The most commonly accepted evidence of English language ability is IELTS 6.5 (with minimum 6.0 in all components). We also normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. Visit our English language requirements page for a full list of accepted tests and qualifications.

Interviews, entrance tests, portfolios and auditions

Each application will be considered on its individual merits and suitably qualified candidates will be invited for interview. Successful applicants may enrol to begin their studies at the start of any of the three terms during the academic year.

To apply for this course, please log into the online application system and select the MSc by Research (ST) application option.

your IELTS, TOEFL or other equivalent English Language certificates (if your first language is not English)

Further information

Candidates already based in the UK who wish to enrol on this MSc by Research may also apply by the last day of July using our online application system.

You can start your MSc by Research at three specific times of the year. These are September 15th, January 15th and May 15th. In order to start at a particular time you must apply by the previous entry point. For example, if you want to start October 15th, please apply by May 15th.

If your application is suitable, you will be invited for interview (in person or by Skype) within two and a half months of your date of application.

The fees below refer to the academic year 2019/20 unless otherwise stated.

International Students*

Full-time students: £11,000Part-time students: £5,500 per year

*Fees are subject to annual inflation so the total costs for part time study are shown here as a guide

International students who require a Tier 4 Student Visa to progress on a course at Middlesex University must apply for study on a full-time basis. If you are on any other visa for the duration of study, please contact our admissions team to discuss possibilities of studying on a part-time basis.

Scholarships, fees and bursaries

Careers

How can the MSc by Research Visual Analysis support your career?

During the course there will be placement opportunities such as working at the Middlesex Design and Innovation Centre. For outstanding students there are also opportunities to visit or exchange with our US partners including the leading visual analytics institutes such as the Purdue University and National Visual Analytics Centre located at the Pacific Northwest National Lab.

Graduates from the degree will have the opportunity to continue the study towards a PhD. For those who would prefer to go into industry, there is also excellent prospects to work as “data analysts”, which is in high demand in software houses,consultancies, and end-user companies in a variety of sectors.

Collect and collate appropriate data for use in databases and conduct related research

Generate reports using IT / database systems and assist in their analysis

Monitor and maintain the quality of database systems and secure access and use

Assist in development and upgrading of database systems and analytical techniques.

Starting salaries are typically £18,000 to £28,000 depending on size and type of employer. With a couple of years’ experience and knowledge of latest systems and techniques, this can rise to £30,000 to £50,000.

People think I’m joking, but who would’ve guessed that computer engineers would’ve been the sexy job of the 1990s? The ability to take data—to be able to understand it, to process it, to extract value from it, to visualise it, to communicate it—that’s going to be a hugely important skill in the next decades.